US10294916B2 - Fluid flow induced oscillating energy harvester maximizing power output through off-center mounted toggling bluff body and/or suspension stiffening mechanism - Google Patents
Fluid flow induced oscillating energy harvester maximizing power output through off-center mounted toggling bluff body and/or suspension stiffening mechanism Download PDFInfo
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- US10294916B2 US10294916B2 US15/353,120 US201615353120A US10294916B2 US 10294916 B2 US10294916 B2 US 10294916B2 US 201615353120 A US201615353120 A US 201615353120A US 10294916 B2 US10294916 B2 US 10294916B2
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- support member
- fluid flow
- bluff body
- energy harvester
- flow induced
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- Expired - Fee Related, expires
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Classifications
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F03B—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS
- F03B17/00—Other machines or engines
- F03B17/06—Other machines or engines using liquid flow with predominantly kinetic energy conversion, e.g. of swinging-flap type, "run-of-river", "ultra-low head"
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F03B—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS
- F03B13/00—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates
- F03B13/10—Submerged units incorporating electric generators or motors
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02K—DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES
- H02K35/00—Generators with reciprocating, oscillating or vibrating coil system, magnet, armature or other part of the magnetic circuit
- H02K35/02—Generators with reciprocating, oscillating or vibrating coil system, magnet, armature or other part of the magnetic circuit with moving magnets and stationary coil systems
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
- F05B—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
- F05B2220/00—Application
- F05B2220/70—Application in combination with
- F05B2220/706—Application in combination with an electrical generator
- F05B2220/707—Application in combination with an electrical generator of the linear type
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
- F05B—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
- F05B2240/00—Components
- F05B2240/90—Mounting on supporting structures or systems
- F05B2240/97—Mounting on supporting structures or systems on a submerged structure
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
- F05B—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
- F05B2260/00—Function
- F05B2260/40—Transmission of power
- F05B2260/403—Transmission of power through the shape of the drive components
- F05B2260/4031—Transmission of power through the shape of the drive components as in toothed gearing
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
- Y02E10/20—Hydro energy
-
- Y02E10/22—
-
- Y02E10/28—
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
- Y02E10/30—Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient
Definitions
- the present invention relates to fluid flow induced oscillating energy harvesters, particularly to maximizing power output in fluid flow induced oscillating energy harvesters.
- Energy harvesters converting ambient energy into electrical energy have attracted much interest in both the military and commercial sectors. For example, some energy harvesters convert motion of ocean waves into electricity to be used by oceanographic monitoring sensors for autonomous operation. Applications may include high power output devices (or arrays of such devices) deployed at remote locations to serve as reliable power stations. These energy harvesters generally must be sufficiently robust to endure long-term exposure to hostile environments and it is preferable if they have a broad range of dynamic sensitivity to exploit the entire spectrum of wave motions.
- the prior art has disclosed a number of fluid responsive energy harvesting methods, both theoretical and practical, for similar applications such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,648,480.
- the '480 patent discloses an energy harvester configured to harness flow energy in a submerged platform having a support member located external to the housing and directly exposed to the fluid flow and lengthwise positioned in the direction of the fluid flow.
- the system provides for arraying a plurality of narrow diameter cantilevered cylinders to facilitate high frequency oscillations and tip displacements to drive the energy harvesters.
- the mechanisms receive and transfer forces via transducers having one or more persistent deformations in changeable locations.
- Actuator or propulsion embodiments are powered by elastic or variable length transducers that exert forces on the deformed members which in turn exert forces onto ambient fluid such as air or water.
- U.S. Pat. No. 8,604,634 discloses an energy harvester operating from flow-induced vibrations in which electrical energy is produced at a remote site by converting kinetic energy from fluid flow to electrical energy using a down-hole energy harvester, also called a borehole energy harvester.
- U.S. Pat. No. 8,534,057 discloses an energy harvester for a waterway with a plurality of blades fixed between wheels or linkages, wherein each blade “stabs” orthogonally into and out of the flow of water edge first, minimizing the displacement and disruption of the water upon entering.
- U.S. Pat. No. 8,288,883 discloses an energy harvester for capturing energy from a fluid flow including a base and an oscillating member in the fluid flow pivotally connected relative to the base about a substantially vertical first pivotal axis.
- U.S. Pat. No. 8,142,154 discloses an oscillating energy harvester in which two or more pivots are mounted onto a platform, and between these pivots, a flexible sheet of material is suspended in the fluid flow.
- the mechanism operates via oscillation of the pivots that result from the upwind or upstream pivot determining the side of the flexible sheet the low-pressure (lift) area favors.
- U.S. Pat. No. 8,047,232 discloses an energy harvester designed to enhance vortex induced forces and motion through surface roughness control, whereby roughness is added to the surface of a bluff body in a relative motion with respect to a fluid.
- U.S. Pat. No. 7,989,973 discloses an energy harvester including a wing-shaped blade in the fluid flow in which a lift differential producing device in the blade produces a lift differential at the opposite sides of the blade and that device is switched so that one blade side or the other produces the greater lift for generating an oscillation in the moving blade.
- U.S. Pat. No. 7,986,054 discloses an energy harvester capable of providing motion from fluid flow includes a magnus-rotor defined by a cylinder driven by a motor causing the cylinder to rotate so that lift is created by the fluid flowing past the cylinder.
- U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,884,490 and 7,633,175 disclose an energy harvester with a resonating blade exposed to a fluid flow.
- U.S. Pat. No. 7,874,882 is believed to be an equivalent of US 2009-0023349 and EP1814789 and discloses an energy harvester that comprises at least one flap member having a rear flap portion that runs in a plate plane, and a forward portion, as seen in the direction of motion.
- the forward portion is connected to the object in such manner that the flap portion can be moved in the fluid transverse to the plate plane and between two positions which are on their respective sides of a neutral place.
- the device comprises an actuating means which allows a freely oscillating motion of the flap member and a drive unit for actuating the flap member when the valve of an oscillation amplitude of the flap member is less than a predetermined threshold value.
- U.S. Pat. No. 7,493,759 discloses an energy harvester including at least one movable element immersed in a fluid medium and supported externally on a support structure such that the movable element can move relatively to the structure in response to a fluid motion by vortex induced motion, galloping or combination thereof, and at least one power device supported on the support structure and coupled to the movable element.
- U.S. Pat. No. 6,153,944 discloses a fluid flow based energy harvester generating electricity from Aeolian oscillations caused by the flow of a fluid.
- An immobile beam extends between two piers, and a movable vane is disposed around the beam in parallel relation thereto.
- U.S. Pat. No. 5,548,956 discloses an energy harvester having cable restrained reciprocating blades for energy extraction from moving body of water
- U.S. Pat. No. 5,324,169 discloses an oscillating, “lateral thrust” energy harvester for power production from low velocity fluid flow which includes a lateral support arm assembly extending from a vertical drive shaft. A power blade is pivotally secured to the distal end of the support arm, and constrained to pivot within a defined operating angle.
- U.S. Pat. No. 4,476,397 discloses an energy harvester utilizing a sail and a mast pivotably mounted to a support configured to provide power from a relatively large volume of fluid moving at a relatively low speed.
- U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,347,036 and 4,184,805 disclose an energy harvester implementing a “cascade” of thin airfoils.
- the airfoils are provided with at least two degrees of freedom and adjacent airfoils are movable out of phase.
- the airfoils are subjected to the aerodynamically induced oscillations caused by the aero-elastic phenomenon known as flutter and the oscillatory movement is then harnessed to do useful work.
- the cascade of airfoils is mechanically oscillated within a moving fluid stream to increase the propulsion of the fluid. Where the fluid is a liquid, the cascade includes a plurality of hydrofoils.
- U.S. Pat. No. 4,024,409 discloses an energy harvester which utilizes a member which oscillates in response to movement of a fluid past it and a means for utilizing the energy generated by the oscillation.
- the oscillating member is a cable utilizing wind or water as generator or pump.
- the oscillating member is an airfoil having either pitch control or active circulation control.
- U.S. Patent Application Publication Number 2007-0176430 discloses a fluid powered energy harvester with an oscillating member in which the magnitude of the oscillations is controlled “by the degree of mechanical resonance between the oscillation rate of the fluidic thrusting and the structures resonance frequency.”
- U.S. Patent Application Publication Number 2009-0121489 discloses a fluid powered “flag type” energy harvester with a flexible pane oscillating member.
- Russian publication 02341679 discloses a fluid powered energy harvester that comprises a submerged hydrodynamic wing profile rotatably mounted on an axle and interacting with the flow of the flowing medium.
- a mechanism for changing the position of the blade is designed as a symmetrically arranged on the longitudinal side of the chassis which stops rotation of the blades.
- a hydraulic force converter is kinematically connected to the supporting element. The design provides an alleged increase in engine efficiency and simplification of its construction.
- This invention is directed to cost effective, efficient, fluid flow induced oscillating energy harvesters that overcome at least some of the drawbacks of the existing designs and which provide a cost effective, efficient approach to maximizing power output in fluid flow induced oscillating energy harvesters.
- One aspect of the present invention provides a fluid flow induced oscillating energy harvester including a stand supporting the energy harvester and configured to support the energy harvester in a fluid flow; a support member mounted for movement relative to the stand in a direction perpendicular to the direction of fluid flow; a bluff body configured to be positioned substantially perpendicular to the direction of fluid flow and pivotally mounted to the support member, wherein sufficient fluid flow causes an oscillating movement of the bluff body and the support member relative to the stand, and wherein the bluff body pivotally mounted to the support member at a position off-center from the center of mass of the bluff body; and an electrical generator coupled to the stand and to the support member, wherein the electrical generator is configured to convert oscillating movement of the bluff body and the support member to electrical power.
- One embodiment of the invention provides a fluid flow induced oscillating energy harvester including a stand supporting the energy harvester and configured to support the energy harvester in a fluid flow; a support member mounted for movement relative to the stand in a direction perpendicular to the direction of fluid flow; a bluff body configured to be positioned substantially perpendicular to the direction of fluid flow, wherein sufficient fluid flow causes an oscillating movement of the bluff body and the support member relative to the stand; an electrical generator coupled to the stand and to the support member, wherein the electrical generator is configured to convert oscillating movement of the bluff body and the support member to electrical power; and a support member spring supporting the support member for oscillation about a support member rest position, wherein the support member spring exhibits a higher stiffness at higher oscillation amplitudes of the bluff body and the support member.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a fluid flow induced oscillating energy harvester according to the present invention
- FIGS. 2A and B are schematic views of a fluid flow induced oscillating energy harvester with off-center mounted toggling bluff body according to one embodiment of the present invention
- FIGS. 3A and B are schematic views of the fluid flow induced oscillating energy harvester of FIGS. 2A and B;
- FIG. 4A is a schematic view of a fluid flow induced oscillating energy harvester with a suspension stiffening mechanism according to one embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 4B is an enlarged schematic view of the fluid flow induced oscillating energy harvester of FIG. 4A ;
- FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a fluid flow induced oscillating energy harvester according to another embodiment of the present invention.
- FIGS. 6A-C are schematic views of alternative linkage arrangements of the fluid flow induced oscillating energy harvester according to further embodiments of the present invention.
- FIG. 7 is a plot of experimental results of power outputs over a range of flows of a system of the present invention using low high and variable stiffness according to the present invention.
- This invention is directed to a cost effective, efficient, fluid flow induced oscillating energy harvester 10 that maximizes power output and overcomes at least some of the drawbacks of the existing proposed designs.
- the up and down orientations in the figures is arbitrary.
- the harvester 10 may be supported in a fluid flow 16 extending vertically upwards generally as viewed in the figures or may be supported downward in the flow 16 , such as being suspended from a barge or deck structure on the surface of a river.
- the currently proposed oscillating energy harvester 10 includes a stand 12 supporting the oscillating energy harvester 10 in a fluid stream or current, such as on a river bed or suspended into the river.
- the stand 12 may also be called a base, housing, support and/or piling.
- the construction of the stand 12 such as the shape shown in FIG. 1 , is generally known in the art and need not be described in detail herein.
- the stand 12 supports at least one, and generally a plurality of spaced bluff bodies 14 .
- a pair of cantilevered bluff bodies 14 is shown in FIG. 1 extending from the stand 12 , but other number of bodies 14 could be utilized.
- FIG. 1 shows a pair of bodies 14 extending from the side of the stand 12 , which may be more common arrangement while FIGS. 2A-B , 3 A-B and 4 A and B suggest a placement of the bodies 14 above the stand 12 mainly to simplify the schematic illustration of the components of the harvester 10 . Both arrangements are possible, as is suspending the bodies 14 below the stand 12 where the stand 12 is mounted above the primary flow to a floating platform or deck, such as a barge (and which surface location may represent a simpler easier location for the electrical generator and associated elements).
- Each bluff body 14 may also be referenced as a prism or a beam. In the preferred embodiment each bluff body 14 is extending from the stand 12 in a cantilevered fashion as shown in FIG. 1 . Alternatively, each bluff body 14 may be supported between a pair of stands 12 at opposed ends thereof, however the cantilevered arrangement shown in FIG. 1 is believed to be more economical and more efficient. Each bluff body 14 is configured to be positioned substantially perpendicular to the direction of fluid flow (shown at 16 ). The particular construction of the bluff bodies 14 is believed to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art and the shape and surface of the bluff body 14 may be optimized for maximizing oscillation.
- each bluff body 14 is mounted for movement relative to the stand 12 at least in a direction perpendicular to the direction of fluid flow 16 . As shown each bluff body 14 is coupled to a support member 18 which extends into the stand 12 to an electrical generator coupled to the stand.
- the electrical generator may be generally within the stand 12 , or in a configuration in which the harvester 10 is suspended from a platform above the flow 16 it may be easier and more efficient to locate the electrical generator on the platform above the stand 12 .
- the support member 18 may take a number of forms and can include several elements, but can be generally described as the coupling between the moveable elements of the electrical generator and the oscillating bluff bodies 14 .
- the schematic FIGS. 2A and B, 3 A and B and 4 A and B form a representational image of the function of the support member 18 .
- the electrical generator may be moving a magnet coupled to the support member 18 through coils or a rotational generator as known in the art.
- the electrical generator may be mounted within the stand 12 , particularly for sub-fluid positioning, but may be located anywhere where it can obtain the necessary mechanical movement of the support member 18 and convert this to electrical energy.
- the construction of the electrical generator, per se, is known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
- Conventional bearing, packing and sealing structures 22 can maintain and restrict the movement of the support member 18 and associated bluff body 14 to a constrained oscillation motion.
- the details of constructing the support member 18 and the bearing, packing and sealing structures 22 are generally known in the art.
- the form of the sealing structures 22 is dictated by the particulars of the support member 18 .
- Oscillation of the bluff body 14 is driven by fluid flow 16 past the bluff body 14 , wherein sufficient fluid flow 16 causes an oscillating movement of the bluff body 14 and support member 18 relative to the stand 12 and provides mechanical movement to the electrical generator thus providing a fluid flow induced oscillating energy harvester 10 .
- a key feature of the present invention is that the bluff body 14 is pivotally mounted to the support member 18 via pivot member 20 .
- the fluid flow induced oscillating energy harvester 10 provides that the bluff body 14 is pivotally mounted via pivot 20 to the support member 18 at a position off-center from the center of mass of the bluff body 14 as shown.
- the bluff body 14 is pivotally mounted to the support member 18 at a position down-stream from the center of mass of the bluff body 18 relative to the direction of fluid flow 16 as shown.
- the fluid flow induced oscillating energy harvester 10 will have in one embodiment of the invention each bluff body 14 pivotally mounted to the support member for rotation through about a 40 degree range of motion.
- a torsional spring (not shown) may be mounted between the support member 18 and the bluff body 14 about the pivot 20 and configured to bias the bluff body 14 to a neutral bluff body rest position (i.e. the torsion spring provides a restoring force).
- the bluff body 14 may be pivotally mounted to the support member 18 for rotation through about a +/ ⁇ 20 degree range of motion relative to the bluff body 14 's rest position.
- Other restoring force members may be utilized such as elastic members coupled to the bluff body 14 or around the pivot 20 .
- the toggling bluff body 14 concept provides the mounting the bluff body 14 so that it can oscillate about the point of pivot member 20 downstream of the center of mass of the bluff body 14 .
- Testing has shown that the torsion spring is helpful to provide a restoring force to the bluff body rotation and improvements to oscillation robustness have been observed with toggle ranges of about ⁇ 20°.
- This toggling body 14 design provides higher harvesting (higher energy yields).
- FIGS. 3A and B illustrate that the fluid loading is a function of the net flow direction 17 of fluid over the surface of the bluff body 14 .
- the net flow direction 17 depends on the flow velocity 16 and the velocity of the bluff body 14 perpendicular to the flow 16 .
- the attack angle of the flow oscillates as the bluff body 14 oscillates. If, for example, the peak driving force of the shape illustrated in the figures for the body 14 was maximum when the net flow 17 was parallel to the top surface of the trapezoidal bluff body 14 , then the peak driving force would occur when the oscillator reaches a higher velocity in the case of the toggling bluff body 14 .
- FIGS. 4A and 4B The oscillating support member 18 and bluff body 14 is suspended or supported by a support member spring 24 shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B .
- the support member spring 24 establishes a zero-displacement or rest position for the support member 18 . If there is no flow, the structure formed of support member 18 portion of the electrical generator coupled thereto and body 14 will rest at this position and when there is sufficient flow, the structure will oscillate about this rest position.
- FIG. 4A and B do not illustrate the toggling prism or body 14 of FIGS. 2A-3B merely to illustrate that the features of the suspension stiffening mechanism of FIGS. 4A and 4B may be used independent of the toggling bodies 14 and vice versa. An important feature of this embodiment shown in FIGS.
- the support member spring 24 exhibits a higher stiffness at higher oscillation amplitudes of the bluff body 14 and the support member 18 .
- the support member spring 24 may be configured, as shown, to exhibits no force on the support member 18 for a range of motion about the support member rest position.
- the spring 24 is coupled to the support member 18 through a pin 26 within a slider 28 such that spring 24 effectively disengages near the neutral or zero displacement point.
- An alternative to this design is to have a single spring engaged at lower amplitudes and added springs become engaged at higher amplitudes.
- a single spring design could also be implemented that exhibits higher stiffness at higher amplitudes
- FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a oscillating energy harvester 10 according to another embodiment of the present invention in which a rack 36 is mounted to a linkage 42 coupled to the support 18 and meshes with a pinion 32 driving a rotary generator (the electrical generator) with the pinion 32 mounted on a separate linkage 44 coupled to the stand 12 .
- the compound motion of the support 18 and the linkages 42 and 44 provides for an improved harvesting rate. Specifically as the amplitude of the motion of the body 14 , increases the motion of the rack 36 relative to the pinion 32 increases thereby increasing the rotation rate of the pinion 32 .
- FIG. 6A and B are schematic views of a proposed linkage assemblies for the fluid flow induced oscillating energy harvester 10 according to further embodiments of the present invention.
- the support 18 is replaced with a four bar linkage 46 and the electrical generator, here in the form of a rotary generator, is moved outside of the stand 12 to a position between the four bar linkage 46 as shown using the linkages 42 and 44 similar to FIG. 5 .
- the compound motion of the four bar linkage 46 and the linkages 42 and 44 provides for increased harvesting yield. Specifically, as the amplitude of the motion of the body 14 increases the motion of the rack 36 relative to the pinion 32 increases thus increasing the rotation rate of the pinion 32 .
- FIG. 6B is analogous to the embodiment of FIG. 6A except the four bar linkage 46 is replaced with a Peaucellier-Lipkin linkage 48 , wherein the compound motion of the Peaucellier-Lipkin linkage 48 provides for an increased harvesting rate. Specifically as the amplitude of the motion of the body 14 increases the motion of the rack 36 relative to the pinion 32 increases thus increasing the rotation of the pinion 32 .
- FIG. 6C shows an alternative harvester 10 linkage arrangements (with the generator removed for clarity) that may be more applicable for a suspended harvester 10 described herein and is merely illustrating further linkage possibilities.
- FIG. 7 illustrates a plot of experimental results of power outputs over a range of flows of a system of the present invention using low high and variable stiffness according to the present invention.
- the variable stiffness design can result in a higher yield over the expected flow ranges, as in this example it meets or exceeds the low K system yields at all reasonable flows and will exceed the high K values at flow rates below a kick in threshold. Maintaining tuning of the energy harvester 10 over a broad range of flow rates may be easier if the oscillation frequency would increase as the flow rate increases and this can be achieved to some degree if the suspension is stiffer at higher displacements as shown in FIGS. 4A and B.
Abstract
Description
Claims (16)
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US15/353,120 US10294916B2 (en) | 2014-05-16 | 2016-11-16 | Fluid flow induced oscillating energy harvester maximizing power output through off-center mounted toggling bluff body and/or suspension stiffening mechanism |
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US201461994203P | 2014-05-16 | 2014-05-16 | |
PCT/US2015/031352 WO2015176059A1 (en) | 2014-05-16 | 2015-05-18 | Fluid flow induced oscillating energy harvester maximizing power output through off-center mounted toggling bluff body and/or suspension stiffening mechanism |
US15/353,120 US10294916B2 (en) | 2014-05-16 | 2016-11-16 | Fluid flow induced oscillating energy harvester maximizing power output through off-center mounted toggling bluff body and/or suspension stiffening mechanism |
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US10294916B2 true US10294916B2 (en) | 2019-05-21 |
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WO2015176057A1 (en) * | 2014-05-16 | 2015-11-19 | Renerge, Inc. | Fluid flow induced oscillating energy harvester with variable damping based upon oscillation amplitude |
CN106762369B (en) * | 2017-02-28 | 2020-03-06 | 上海交通大学 | Vortex-induced vibration power generation device |
CN109799396B (en) * | 2019-01-21 | 2021-02-02 | 北京工业大学 | Experimental device for vortex-induced vibration piezoelectric energy harvester in water flow and using method thereof |
CN113586325B (en) * | 2021-08-12 | 2023-05-23 | 中国科学院电工研究所 | Deep sea vortex-induced vibration power generation device |
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